Helios (BattleMech)
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- This article is about the 60-ton BattleMech. For other uses, see Helios.
| Helios | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Production Information | |
| Manufacturer(s) | Ceres Metals Industries[1] |
| Production Year | 3058[2] |
| Model | HEL-3D[1] |
| Class | Heavy |
| Cost | 5,736,000 C-bills |
| Technical specifications | |
| 'Mech type | Inner Sphere BattleMech |
| Mass | 60 tons |
| Chassis | Overlord Mk. 3 Endo Steel |
| Armor | Taijian StarShield II |
| Engine | Pitban 240 |
| Comms | Ceres SuperComm 3 |
| TTS | Wentland Giga-Track |
| Heat Sinks | 10 double |
| Speed | 64 km/h |
| Jump Jets | Swingline X-1200 |
| Armament |
|
| B.V. (1.0) | 1,559[3] |
| B.V. (2.0) | 1,618[1][4] |
Contents
Description[edit]
With a military that utilized expensive assault 'Mechs like the Emperor, Pillager, and Victor in large numbers, the St. Ives Compact had a distinct need to protect those investments. To do this, the St. Ives Compact worked with engineers at Ceres Metals Industries to design a 'Mech that could both protect and support its heavier charges. The Helios is also produced by Ceres Metals for use by ComStar due to the secular organization quietly financing an increase in the number of production lines for the 'Mech to four. [5]
The first two production runs of the Helios were reserved exclusively for the St. Ives Compact, resulting in the 'Mech seeing service with every regiment in the SIMC. Half of the third production run was slated for ComStar to help recoup Com Guard losses suffered against Clan Smoke Jaguar during Operation BULLDOG. Around 3060 the Draconis Combine signed trade and technology agreements with Duchess Candace Liao, resulting in new variants of the Helios utilizing Combine technology being rushed into production, both to supply new weapons for the SIMC but also potentially secure export sales of the 'Mech to the DCMS.[5] The 'Mech would still see use following the reabsorption of the St. Ives Compact by the Capellan Confederation with the CCAF continuing to deploy variants of the Helios during the Dark Age era.[6]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
Constructed from almost entirely from Compact-built equipment, the Helios has excellent mobility when compared to the 'Mechs it defends with a top speed of 64.8 km/h provided by its Pitban 240 fusion engine. The Helios can also jump up to one hundred and twenty meters by virtue of its four Swingline X-1200 jump jets. For protection from enemy fire, the Helios has a light, but adequate, nine tons of armor protection.[5]
The Helios carries a MilDouglas "Emperor Bones" Series Gauss rifle as its primary weapon. This allows the Helios to strike an enemy at ranges similar to that of the 'Mechs it protects with respectable firepower. For close combat, the Helios has two BlazeFire Longshot ER medium lasers and a pair of MilDouglas "Duke" SRM-6 launchers which can usually make short work of an enemy 'Mech that makes it into short range. A late change, the Free Worlds League manufactured ER medium lasers were made possible through additional funding provided by ComStar. Early production runs that mounted standard medium lasers were scheduled to be refit with the ER versions once sufficient stock became available.[5]
Variants[edit]
- HEL-4A
- A more energy weapon dependent version of the Helios spawned by the Combine trade deal, the 4A strips all of the 'Mech's weapons and adds two tons of armor. It has an ER PPC as its primary weapon backed up by two medium lasers and an MRM-20 launcher.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,426,[3][7] BV (2.0) = 1,519[8]
- HEL-6X
- This was an Advance Tech variant that was developed during the Jihad. The 'Mech's engine was exchanged for a Light Fusion Engine and its speed increased. The original's Gauss Rifle is replaced by a Heavy PPC, in either torso location a Medium Variable Speed Pulse Laser has been added. The original's ER medium lasers are retained in the left arm. The massive amount of heat generated was presumably tolerated as a means to activate its Triple Strength Myomer. A C3i Computer was also included in this model. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,761[9]
- HEL-7L
- Seen almost exclusively in the company of Vandal OmniMechs, this Dark Age variant uses Light PPCs and an MML launcher to supplement the Gauss Rifle. It also carries a C3 boosted slave system.[6] BV (2.0) = 1,459[10]
Design Quirks[edit]
The Helios has the following Design Quirks:[13]
Notable Pilots[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Original Helios from TRO:3060
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: Jihad, pp. 130–131: "HEL-3D Helios"
- ↑ MUL online date for the Helios (BattleMech)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Combat Operations, p. 122
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 154
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Technical Readout: 3060, pp. 104–105: "Helios 'Mech Profile"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Technical Readout: 3150, p. 223 "New Tech, New Upgrades"
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060, p. 161
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 155
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged p. 156
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3150
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060, p. 162
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 157
- ↑ BattleMech Manual, p. 92: BattleMech Quirk Table - Helios Entry